22.10.16

4 Under-Eye Concealers That Actually Work

What's the most powerful product in your makeup bag? Personally I'd award my concealers as my true beauty heroes. Designed to banish, lift and brighten those shadows lurking under your eyes, they're the difference between looking like you had a night out and looking like you snuck in a few extra hours sleep. But concealer can be really hit or miss, so I've compiled 4 Emily-approved concealers at every price point, that conceal and minimise dark shadows.

Packed with hydralonic acid and Mont Blanc glacier water the Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer is perfect for those with dry under eyes, that need to conceal with something a little more moisturising. The coverage is sheer so it won’t completely cloak your skin. Its light-reflecting finish adds a subtle luminosity to the skin making it an ideal candidate for brightening. The doe-foot applicator makes application precise and easy. And once applied it visibly smooth's away fine lines and hydrates the under-eye area. It’s just a bummer that it only available in 3 shades!

If you’re after coverage the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer provides full coverage for the darkest racoon eyes. It’s highly pigmented and has thicker coverage in comparison to other products available, and whilst it’s a little on the pricey side it's well worth it. Taking just a teeny-tiny amount on the back of my hand (a little goes a long way), using a synthetic brush and I blend the product under my eyes. It can be tricky to get the product out of the tube - it requires a good squeeze! But the concealer drastically diminishes any unwanted darkness without being cake-y, sitting in creases around the eyes and slip-and-sliding all over your face. It blends immaculately and the shade is spot on. I also use the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer to help conceal any redness around my nose. And with a bit of translucent powder it stays where you put it for the whole day. If heavy bags really both you, it’s worth the investment - it has it all covered!

The Bobbi Brown Corrector is a pink or peach based corrector created to neutralise under-eye darkness before the use of concealer. I quickly tap into place with my fingers and it effectively corrects the blueness beneath my lashes. Its formulation is creamy, lightweight, waterproof and is available in 16 skin-tone correcting shades. The colour-correcting formula contains skin conditioners to help protect the delicate under-eye area and layers well under concealer or foundation (which also helps to balance the colour if necessary). If you over apply it does have the tendency to crease, but tap on just the right amount, apply concealer and set with powder, it will be smudge-proof masking tied eyes all day long.

The Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer is a gem. Whilst the sponge applicator isn’t particularly hygienic, it makes application effortless. Its formulation includes goji berry and Haloxyl help to reduce the look of puffiness, fine lines and the appearance under-eye circles and is a great option for those with mature skin. Applied in a triangular shape under my eyes and blended, it instantly brightens and masks dark circles. It has a natural finish with no shimmer or dewiness and doesn’t require a setting powder. However, on occasion it has been too dry for my liking. It has light to medium, layerable coverage. I picked one shade lighter than my natural skin-tone and it has a soft yellow undertone that works wonderfully on my cheekbones, under my brows, and eyes for a general contouring effect. And it’s available in fair, light, medium, honey, neutralizer and brightener shades.